Device for sealing punctures in pneumatic tires.



Patented Nov. 7,: I899.

W. S. WEATHERWAX. DEVICE FOR SEALING PUNCTURES IN PNEUMATIC TIRES.

(Qpplicaticn filed Apr, 25, 1899.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR WITNESSES 1% 166m,

TNE NORRIS PETERS co. Puo'mLnKa, WASHINGTQH. n. c.

UNITED STATES rrrcn.

PATENT WALTER SMILEY WEATHERWAX, OF DEMING, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

DEVICE FORSEALING PUNCTURES IN PNEUMATIC TIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,369, dated November7, 1899.

7 Application filed April 25, 1899. Serial lio- 714347. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER SMILEY WEATHERWAX, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Deming, in the county of Grant and Territory of NewMexico,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices forSealing the Punctures in Pneumatic Tires, of which the following is afull and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make'and use the same.

This invention relates to pneumatic tires for bicycles andsimilar'vehicles, and particularly devices for sealing or closingpunctures therein; and the object of the invention is to provide animproved device for this purpose whereby a puncture in a tire of theclass described may be quickly, easily, and conveniently sealed orclosed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the fol lowing specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which Figure 1 is a viewof a transverse section of a pneumatic tire, showing myim provedpuncture sealing or closing device and the method of its operation; Fig.2, a similar view showing the parts in a difierent position and thepuncture sealing or closing device in section; Fig. 3, a transversesectional view of the tire, showing the puncture or opening sealed; and

4, a side view of the puncture-sealing devlce.

In the drawings forming part of this specification the separate parts ofmy improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in eachof the views, and in said drawings I have shown at a transverse sectionof an ordinary pneumatic tire, in which is formed at 6 a puncture orother hole or opening, and in the practice of my invention I provide adevice of the class described which comprises two hand-levers 7, theouter ends of which are preferably curved, as shown at 8, and the innerends of which are slotted transversely, as shown at 9 in Fig. 4:, toform side jaws 10, between which is pivoted a block 11.

The pivot-pin, which passes through the jaws 10 and the block 11, isshown at 12, and

pivoted in the opposite sides of the block 11,

as shown at 13, are supplemental levers 14,

and the outer end of the block 11 is provided with a transverse head 15,having at each side slotted logs or projections 16, adapted to receivethe outer ends of the supplemental levers 14, and the inner ends of saidsupplemental levers 14 are each provided with an inwardly-directed jaw17, and each of the levers 7 is provided with a transverse pin 18, whichin the operation of the device, as hereinafter described, forces theinner ends of the supplemental levers inwardly and the outer endsoutwardly for the purpose hereinafter described.

The inner sides of the levers 7 are grooved longitudinally, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2, and pivoted therein centrally thereof, at 19, are links20, which are also pivotally connected with a block 21, placed betweenthe outer ends of the levers 7, and through which is passed a shaft 22,which is provided'at its outer end with a knob or handle 23 and alsowith a fixed collar 24:, between which and the knob or handle the block21 is placed. The inner end of the shaft 22 passes through the pivot-pin12 and centrally through the block 11, between the supplemental leversl4:, and projects slightly beyond the block 11 when the levers 7 areclose together, as shown in Fig. 2; but when said levers are separated,as shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 22 is projected much beyond the head 15 ofthe block 11. The collar 24 is rigid with the shaft 22 and is alsoprovided at its opposite sides with sh0ulders or projections 25, and theoperation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoingdescription, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,and the following statement thereof.

The outer end of the shaft 22 is slotted, as shown at 26, and wheneverit is desired to close a puncture or hole in a tire the levers 7 of thepuncture-sealing device are spread outwardly, as shown in Fig. 1. Thisoperation forces the shaft 22 through the block 11 to the utmost limit,and in this operation the shoulders or projections on the collar 24 passbetween the jaws 17 of the supplemental levers 14,-as shown in saidfigure, and the shaft 22 is then turned by the handle 23 until theshoulders or projections 25 assume the position shown in said figure andthe jaws 17 of the levers 14 engage therewith. This looks the parts inthe position shown in Fig. 1, in which the shaft 22 is projected to thelimit of its outward movement. I then loop over one of the lugs orprojections 16 small rubber bands 27, which are drawn around the end ofthe shaft 22 and through the slot in the end thereof and looped over theother lug or projection 16. The rubber bands are then immersed in asuitable liquid cement, and the device is grasped in one hand, and theshaft 22, with the rubber bands 27 connected therewith, is forcedinwardly into the tire through the puncture or hole 6, as shown inFig. 1. The shaft 22 is then turned by the handle 23 until the shouldersor projections 25 on the collar 2i are disconnected from the jaws 17 onthe levers 14, and the outer ends of the levers 7 are then graduallypressed together. In this operation the shaft 22 is gradually withdrawnfrom the tire, and the rubber bands 27 are left firmly compressed in thepuncture or hole 6, and theliquid cement thereon causes the same tosecurelyseal said puncture or hole.

The outward movement of the outer ends of the supplemental levers It, ashereinbefore described, serves to detach the ends of the rubber bandsfrom the lugs or projections 16, and the said rubber bands are detachedfrom the end of the shaft 22 by simply pulling sufiiciently hard on saidshaft to accomplish said detachment, the result of this operation beingto leave the said bands in the position shown in Fig. 3.

This device is simple in construction and operation and perfectlyadapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it willbe apparent that changes in and modifications of the constructiondescribed may be made without departing from the spirit of my inventionor sacrificing its ad vantages.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A device of the class described, comprising twopivoted levers, a slidable shaft passing through the pivotal points ofsaid levers, a block or collar mounted on said shaft and within whichsaid shaft is adapted to turn, and devices pivotally connecting saidblock or collar with said levers, substantially as shown and described.

2. A device of the class described, comprising hand-levers provided atone end with side jaws, a block mounted between said jaws, a pivot pinpassing through said jaws and through said block, a shaft passingthrough the said block between the said levers and adapted to turn insaid block, a block or collar connected with said shaft, and in whichsaid shaft is adapted to turn, and links pivotally connected with saidblock or collar with said levers, substantially as shown and described.

3. A device of the class described, comprising hand-levers provided atone end with side jaws, a block mounted between said jaws, a pivot pinpassing through said jaws and through said block, a shaft passingthrough the said block between the said levers and adapted to turn insaid block, a block or 001- lar connected with said shaft, and in whichsaid shaft is adapted to turn, and links pivotally connected with saidblock or collar with said levers, said shaft being provided at the endthereof which passes through said block or collar with a handle, andalso with a stationary collar, and the opposite end being provided withmeans for holding arubber band or similar device, substantially as shownand described.

4. A device of the class described, comprising two pivotally connectedhand levers which are provided with jaws through which the pivot-pinpasses, and a block mounted between said jaws through which the saidpivot-pin also passes, other supplemental le vers pivoted in theopposite sides of said block, and provided at their inner ends withinwardly directed jaws, a shaft passing through said block between saidsupplemental levers, and provided with a rigid collar having sideprojections, a collar or block mounted on said shaft, and in which saidshaft is adapted to turn, and links pivotally connected with said leversand with said block or collar, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a device of the class described, two levers pivotally connected atone end, a slidable shaft mounted between said levers and passingthrough their pivotal point, links pivotally connected with said leversand with a block through which said shaft passes, and in which saidshaft is adapted to turn, and means for locking said levers in the openor separated position, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 17th day of April,1899.

WALTE R- SillI LE1 WEA'IIIERWAX.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. DANE, ROBERT EARLE DANE.

